Galapagos journals Days 14 and 15

Dear diary,

I have never seen weather change so quickly and so dramatically! Yesterday, it was sunny and cheerful and very very hot, probably a good thing too as we were travelling from Isabela to San Cristobal so spent the whole day on boats. But today, since we woke up in the morning and until now, it's been pouring down the most amazing, tropical rain I've ever experienced! At least we managed to squeeze something in during the brief gaps in the rain and we went for a walk around the main port in San Cristobal. The island seems like it's going to be the best of the three Galapagos islands we'll visit (Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal) - as quiet and tranquil as Isabela but still a lot of things to do. 

On our walk, we saw a rather pretty tree covered in red blossom and another covered in yellow! They looked perfect side by side and I couldn't resist taking a photo!

We also went to the Interpretation Centre (I am not sure why but this is how the call Visitors Centres in South America) and learnt some more interesting facts about the Galapagos and its history. For example, did you know that like that Baltra (where the plane from the mainland lands)  was a American air base in the 2nd World War, and that Puerto Villamil (in Isabela island) was named after Villamil the first governor of the Ecuadorian Galapagos, because ownership of the Galapagos was contested by France, England and the USA!

After we left the Interpretation Centre, at the beach, there were hundreds of sea lions lying down on the wet sand. Some of the big males were challenging other males for the females' attention by standing up and seeing who was stronger and loudest. There are so many sea lions on the island that I am starting to think that there are as many as there are iguanas on Santa Cruz and Isabela. Just countless.

We also got a glimpse of the San Cristobal carnival parade which was small but very fun. 

It started raining again, at first not very strong but the rain got stronger very fast. At the carnival, there were lots of people with water guns and water balloons having fun with their friends, and it seems like God was joining in with the fun and shocking us all!!🤣🤣🤣